Trick device.



Nb. 824,561.- PATENTED JUNE 26, 1906.

G. L. MASGHIN.

TRICK DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6, 1905.

dLMadC/lifi @lnvenlioz UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

Specification of Letters Patent.

katentect June 26, 1906.

Application filed May 6,1905. Serial N0. 259,163.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE L. MAsoHrN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Westfield, in the county of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Trick Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a trick device or lung-tester; and it consists, essentially, of a receptacle having a movable device, such as a fan-wheel, mounted thereon and a double stem so arranged that the uninitiated operator will only succeed in blowing some pulverulent material, such as lampblack or flour, into his face in an endeavor to operate the movable device or to cause the wheel to rotate.

It has for its object to produce a device of this character which will be very temptingand deceptive in appearance and which will at the same time be so simple in construction as to be cheaply manufactured and placed upon the market.

Reference is to be had to ing drawings, in which Figure 1 1s a perspective view of the device. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal view.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in both the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The numeral 1 indicates the receptacle, which is shown as cylindrical, but which may be of any desired size and shape. A fanthe accompanywheel 2 is mounted on the top of the receptacle 1 between the two sides of an arch 3, which is formed out of a strip of metal and also serves as a guard for the wheel. Two hollow stems 4 and 6 pass into the receptacle 1 through a side thereof, one being of smaller diameter and passing through the other, the inner stem 4 having its inner end open, so as to have direct communication with the inside of the receptacle, which is partly filled with some pulverulent or mobile material 5, such as lampblack or water, while the outer stem 6 has a vertical opening adjacent its inner end, which opening communicates with a small vertical tube 7, which passes up through the top of the receptacle and terminates beneath the blades of the fan-wheel 2. The inner end of the tube 6 is partly closed, having an opening 12 through which the adjacent inner end of the inner tube passes, the latter terminating at such opening. The

outer ends of the stems 4 and 6 are capped by a conical-shaped mouthpiece 8, which is so arranged that, as seen in the drawings, the inner stem 4 is connected to the opening in the vertex of the conical mouthpiece, while the outer stem 6 has communication with openings 9, leading outward through the base of the mouthpiece 8. A small concealed opening 10 is provided in the side of the receptacle' facing the operator, and, as shown in the drawings, this takes the form of a slit between the top and the side and is practically invisible, owing to the fact that the top ex-' tends a short distance over the side. An opening 11 is left in the bottom of the receptacle 1 for the insertion of the pulverulent or mobile materialand is afterward carefully soldered and closed.

The top of the receptacle 1 is of course'permanently attached thereto, and the arrangement of the tube 7 is such that it forms virtually a brace to reinforce the attachment of the'hollow stems through which air is blown in the operation of the invention. Said tube 7 is permanently attached at its lower end to the outermost stem, while its upper end is permanently attached to the cover, so as to rigidly mount the tube in a manner readily apparent.

To all external appearances all that is necessary to cause the wheel 2 to rotate is to place the conical-shaped member 8 in the mouth and blow. However, as'will be understood from the foregoing'description, this will only direct a current of air into the receptacle 1, and this air will be blown back into the face of the operator through the opening 11 and will carry with it a cloud of the lampblack or pulverulent material or some of the mobile material in a sprayed state, and will thus make a laughin stock of the individual'attemptin' to turn t e wheel. In order to turn the whee 2 it is simply necessary to place the entire conical-shaped member 8 in the mouth and place the tongue over the opening in the vertex thereof before blowing. The current of air then passes into the outer stem 6, through the openings 9, and is guided by the tube 7 against the radial arms of the wheel 2.

A feature of the invention which is absolutely essential to secure a practical device of the nature hereinbefore described resides in the arrangement of the opening 10, whereby the same is to all intents and purposes concealed from the manipulator of the device. The concealment of the opening 10 obviates all likelihood of immediate suspicion on the part of the manipulator of the device when the spray of pulverulent material is striking him in the face. Though a slight current of air would be felt as soon as the operator blows into the stem 4, yet as there is apparently no outlet for such current from the receptacle 1 suspicion that the device is being used for trick purposes is not created in the mind of the one industriously attempting to turn the fan 2 by blowing into the receptacle 1.

Another advantageous feature of the invention resides in the disposition of the stems 4 and 6 horizontally, whereby the material in the receptacle 1 does not tend to fill the stem 4, so as to clog it at its inner extremity. The arrangement of the stems 4 and 6 is peculiarly adapted to secure the best results.

It will thus be understood that I have invented a trick device which is very innocent and irresistible in appearance and which will prove a sure snare for the overcurious individual.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. A trick device comprising a receptacle containing pulverulent or mobile material, a

fan-wheel journaled at the top of the recep-V tacle, a vertical tube arranged in the receptacle and having its upper end passing through the top thereof and terminating at a point whereby it is adapted to deliver a blast against the fan-wheel, and two hollow stems leading through a side of the receptacle to the interior thereof, one surrounding the other, the outermost stem being provided with a vertical opening adjacent to its inner end and establishing communication between the vertical tube and said outer stem, the innermost end of the outer stem being partly closed so as to form an opening re ceiving the inner extremity of the inner stem which is open to the interior of the receptacle, the inner stem being provided with a mouthpiece at its outer end, the receptacle having an opening at its upper portion and facing toward the mouthpiece to permit of egress of the pulverulent material in the receptacle, the top of the receptacle being projected or extended a short distance beyond the adjacent side to overlap and conceal the opening provided in the receptacle for egress of the material contained therein.

2. A trick device comprising a receptacle containing pulverulent or mobile material, a fan-wheel journaled above the top of the re ceptacle, inner and outer hollow stems leading through a side of the receptacle, the inner stem being open' at its innermost extremity and in direct communication with the interior of the receptacle, the inner extremity of the outer stem being closed about the inner stem to connect the inner ends of the two stems, a tube extending vertically from the outer stem and in communication therewith, said tube passing through the top of the receptacle so as to direct a blast against the fan-wheel, and a mouthpiece at the outer extremities of the inner and outer stems and permitting of blowing through either of said stems, the receptacle being provided with an opening facing toward the mouthpiece for the purpose specified.

3. In a trick device, the combination of a receptacle containing pulverulent or mobile material and having a top permanently applied thereto, a fan-wheel journaled to and above the top of the receptacle, inner and outer hollow stems leading through a side of the receptacle, the inner stem being open at its innermost end to establish direct communication with the interior of said receptacle, the outer stem being closed and connected with the inner stem at the inner extremities of the two stems, a mouthpiece applied at the outer extremities of the stems to admit of blowing through either of them, and a tube communicating at its lower end and permanently attached to the outer stem adjacent to its inner extremity, said tube projecting vertically from the stems aforesaid and passing through the top of the receptacle and permanently attached to said top so as to direct a blast against the fan-wheel, the receptacle being provided with an outlet-opening at its upper portion and facing toward the mouthpiece of the stems for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE L. MASCHIN. 

